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January 25, 2010
Public-Land Trophy - 35
 We’ve all seen pictures and even video clips of thick-boned titans trotting around with racks that would probably make Daniel Boone and Davey Crockett go into cardiac arrest. In the real world, many of these top-heavy bruisers live behind high-fences and dollar signs that would make an AIG executive with no government bailout money squirm. However, it’s still possible to tag a heavy-racked monster from public land areas that doesn’t require a month’s salary or expensive guides to hunt. Just ask Lynn Hensley who recently connected with a double drop-tined dream buck that sported 18-points with a 22-inch inside spread.
Let’s face it; a whitetail that survives long enough in the wild to grow pop can thick bases and extra long points is a different breed of animal that commands respect. Hensley completely understood that it would take a lot of work and long hours in the stand to generate a close encounter with a deer of this magnitude. In fact, for three years Hensley hunted the same tract of Daniel Boone National Forest land in southeastern Kentucky. The area primarily consisted of vast stretches of open hardwoods country, rocky cliffs, clear-cut entanglements, and laurel thickets. Who would have thought that an area with no agricultural farmland, manicured food plots, or strict management plans could produce such a phenomenal buck? Nonetheless, Hensley knew the buck was there and that was enough to keep him in the woods throughout three seasons. Finally, the opportunity he had been waiting on for so long presented itself during the Kentucky rifle season. Hensley had decided to move setups and try an overgrown thicket near an old gravel back road. Just after daylight, the hunter caught a glimpse of movement from a large bodied deer in the middle of the brushy cover. He quickly picked out a narrow opening and patiently waited for the whitetail to enter. You can bet that Hensley’s heart skipped a beat when the buck’s massive rack came into view. Without hesitation, he rested the crosshairs of his scope on the sweet spot and gently squeezed the trigger. The giant 18-point buck hit the ground like a rock and ended three long years of hard work for Hensley. |
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Comments (35)
Travis, here is what my dad found yesterday while we where out shed hunting. One point was broken in half but it was the first find of the year! http://www.outdoorlife.com/photos/bragging-board/hunting/deer/whitetail/...
travis, yup you got our e-mail addres! I went shed hunting no luck in the snow but it gets the blood pumping when whitetail & mule deer bucks & bull elk all using the same trails. Its what keeps me going one day I find nothing next time a little fork horned bleached out whitetail & the time after that might be 3 or 4 brown elk antlers!! I'm still working on my first shed of the year.djh
Dropjhook,
I've always wanted to hunt or just get to see Montana. For a country boy in eastern Kentucky, it's hard to imagine a place where you can hunt elk, mule deer, whitetails, and mountain lions. Thanks for the tip and I'll look you up if I ever get to make a trip out your way.
Travis Faulkner
Outdoor Life
ttfaulkner@msn.com
treedemon, I would like to see some of sheds you find also please post us some photo's!!djh
http://www.seeleyswanpathfinder.com/pfrecreation/hunting.html
Travis, If any of the BBZ plans a hunt in Montana there is a place that will kindle your hunting spirit called Seeley Lake Montana. There just over the Mission Range from me & I've seen some gagers come out of there. I'm talking massive antler whitetails with the dark dark brown color. This area hasent been known to have big whitetails & I notice there being pretty secretive about letting the big whitetail secret out. I was coming back from seeley after a bball game it was like I entered a movie script because we just get out of town & there where deer on the road! I'm talking the whole road bothsides it was like driving threw a cattle drive. After about 160 yrds they kinda thinned out of the road but you could see there eyes along side the roads for a ways down the road. Come to find out years later a guy tells me that wasent rear back then because big numbers of deer would gather around the roads to eat the salt off the roads. Thats when they used salt on the road now they have someting else they use.
BBZ Fans,
My home state of Kentucky offers some excellent public-land hunting opportunities (this amazing buck is a prime example). However, I would love to hear from all of you about the quality of public land hunting in your states. Please post some comments and share with us how you would grade the public land deer hunting in your neck of the woods.
Thanks,
Travis Faulkner
Outdoor Life
ttfaulkner@msn.com
Treedemon,
My biggest bodied buck ever was from the open country of KS on a bow hunt. There are some absolute monsters running around in that state. In fact, it looks like you found a giant set of sheds from your picture. Keep us posted on what you find this year. How difficult are sheds to find in your neck of the woods?
Travis Faulkner
Outdoor Life
ttfaulkner@msn.com
great deer for sure, as for shed hunting it is on here in kansas, really finding some bigun's
we are at about 50%on the drop right now, get out and find em now before those damm squirrels do
Big O,
As a hunter, it's just good to see a a buck like that being tagged from public land. This particular deer was taken from an area that has no food plots or agricultural land period. Miles of hardwoods and thickets were able to produce this giant. Deer like these give all us hope.
Travis Faulkner
Outdoor Life
ttfaulkner@msn.com
NICE BUCK ! ! !
It's nice to see the "lil guy" WIN ONE ! ! !
THANK YOU TO EACH OF YOU FOR YOUR TIME TO COMMENT ON MY DEER. ALL YOUR KIND WORDS AND CONGRATULATIONS ARE GREATLY APPRECIATED. AGAIN, A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO TRAVIS FAULKNER, THE BEST.
Wow what a buck! Congratulations Lynn on the buck of a lifetime. Thanks for the article Travis. What makes this buck even more special than his amazing rack is the fact that he was taken on public land and under rules of fair chase. Good luck in the future Lynn.
Wow what a buck! Congratulations Lynn on the buck of a lifetime. Thanks for the article Travis. What makes this buck even more special than his amazing rack is the fact that he was taken on public land and under rules of fair chase. Good luck in the future Lynn.
Charlie Elk,
I also have access to some good private land, but many of my best bucks have been taken from public land. I love having company when hunting these areas. Without question, hunting pressure has pushed more than one wall-hanger past my stand in the past. There is nothing like being right in the middle of all the action!
Travis Faulkner
Outdoor Life
ttfaulkner@msn.com
Now your secret is out Travis and here everyone thought you had some little private hidey hole...
Come to think of it the public land / big buck secret has been disclosed. We best be more careful with your secrets; it will get too crowded out there. ;-)
Charlie Elk,
I agree with you 100% about public-land bucks. In many cases, large tracts of open ground and intense hunting pressure get inside the heads of hunters. However, learning how to utilize outside pressure can be a major advantage. Most of my bucks have been tagged from these hard-hit areas.
Travis Faulkner
Outdoor Life
ttfaulkner@msn.com
Yea Travis those big public land deer are challenging you have to find the chink in their armor. From my experience there are lots of them out there and it seems most hunters ignore the opportunity.
While fall turkey hunting on a 15,000 acre public parcel I found several trophy class bucks. A couple of them within bow range, alas I had a shotgun...
took some outstanding pics and I have GPS cooridinates some might pay for. ;-D
Charlie Elk,
It's good to know that money, science, and fences can't beat nature all the time when it oomces to growing big bucks. Can you imagine how smart a buck like this had to be to survive years of intense hunting pressure on public land?
Travis Faulkner
Outdoor Life
ttfaulkner@msn.com
Great story Travis and congrats Lynn. Its good to see when someones hard work pays off. Its a very nice trophy.
Sir, that is a fine buck. I just hope that in my own public hunting escapades I can be half as fortunate.
Well deserved buck Lynn you'll enjoy that one on your wall for sure.
Good public land has good bucks we public land hunters should keep that our secret. ;-D
Travis, Today went & splurged a little messed around & bought me a hunting truck & also a new cannon camera so if it dont break while shed hunting I should beable to get better hunts on camera during hard horned season. If I find any big sheds I will send photos for sure I cant wait to go shed hunting very excited!!!! djh
Great Article! This is a massive buck...congratulations Lynn!
Dropjhook,
It's always good to find big sign or see monster bucks in your hunting area. Knowing the big boys are there is enough to keep you in the woods even when you're killed from a long week at work! Keep us posted on the BBZ when you start shed hunting. I got some pretty cool trail-cam pics of a buck before and after he dropped one side of his rack last week. The same camera had two big bobcats, gray foxes, turkeys, a coyote and several bucks in the snow. I love checking my trail-cam! You never know what is going to show up.
Travis Faulkner
Outdoor Life
ttfaulkner@msn.com
Travis, We are finding more big bucks in higher level of altitudes out here in NW Montana the place's where we find where these thick wooded area bucks live it is like a jungle most the year so they are living far away from us as they can. I guess some are born with a 6th sense for survival they like areas where they have the uperhand many times I wont even see the deer beded but they know soon as the tree gets between I & him he knows that is enuff cover for them to escape all you get to see is the thing that looks like ribs on his head then hes gone just a faint memory but one that gives you that rush knowing there is that big of bucks in the area. Thats why it is amazing to see wild free range monster bucks go down. Thanks for storie & good job
Michael,
I guess my boss would just have to go ahead and fire me if I knew a buck like that was running around near my home. Travis Faulkner would be MIA and out of reach for the months of October and November for sure!
Travis Faulkner
Outdoor Life
ttfaulkner@msn.com
Karen and Lynn,
Thanks for the nice comments about the article. I really enjoyed covering this story, because the buck was taken the right way. Also, I know exactly how difficult it can be to pattern and hunt a trophy-class buck in that neck of the woods. No fields, farmland,or food plots can be extremely tough. Thickets, cliffs, and miles of hardwoods forces a deer hunter to take their scouting to a higher level.
All of the bucks that I've taken from the Daniel Boone National Forest have been hard earned and that's what makes things even sweeter. Lynn you logged in a lot of hours for this buck (3-years) and you deserve to hang that monster on your wall. Way to stick with it!
Travis Faulkner
Outdoor Life
ttfaulkner@msn.com
That's a great buck ole KY is having some true trophy class deer taking in it.
What a buck! Your persistence paid off, nicely done.
THIS DEER AND YOU ARE FANTASTIC. CONGRATULATIONS, MY HUSBAND, ON GETTING THE ONE THAT DID NOT GET AWAY THIS TIME. WITH LOVE. K
GREAT ARTICLE, TRAVIS!!! YOU ARE AN EXCELLENT WRITER!! YOUR INTELLIGENCE AND PROFESSIONALISM DEFINITELY SHINES IN THIS ARTICLE. I AM ANXIOUS TO READ MORE OF YOUR ARTICLES. THANK YOU FOR YOUR INTEREST IN THIS HUNT. AS YOU MAY KNOW, I AM THE WIFE OF LYNN HENSLEY, THE HUNTER. AS SUCH I HAVE SEEN THE DEER UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL AND HEARD THE "HUNT STORY" MANY TIMES. IT IS A GOOD STORY THAT DESERVES TO BE TOLD IN YOUR GREAT MAGAZINE. I APPRECIATE YOUR SEEING THIS AND TAKING THE TIME TO SHARE IT WITH YOUR READERS. AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR A JOB WELL DONE. KAREN
Sweet story, sweet deer.
way to go lynn thats a hell of a buck!
What a deer! I have seen this deer before, the bad thing is that instead of hearing my 270 go off I got to here my alarm clock.
Post a Comment (200 characters or less)
Michael,
I guess my boss would just have to go ahead and fire me if I knew a buck like that was running around near my home. Travis Faulkner would be MIA and out of reach for the months of October and November for sure!
Travis Faulkner
Outdoor Life
ttfaulkner@msn.com
Charlie Elk,
It's good to know that money, science, and fences can't beat nature all the time when it oomces to growing big bucks. Can you imagine how smart a buck like this had to be to survive years of intense hunting pressure on public land?
Travis Faulkner
Outdoor Life
ttfaulkner@msn.com
What a deer! I have seen this deer before, the bad thing is that instead of hearing my 270 go off I got to here my alarm clock.
GREAT ARTICLE, TRAVIS!!! YOU ARE AN EXCELLENT WRITER!! YOUR INTELLIGENCE AND PROFESSIONALISM DEFINITELY SHINES IN THIS ARTICLE. I AM ANXIOUS TO READ MORE OF YOUR ARTICLES. THANK YOU FOR YOUR INTEREST IN THIS HUNT. AS YOU MAY KNOW, I AM THE WIFE OF LYNN HENSLEY, THE HUNTER. AS SUCH I HAVE SEEN THE DEER UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL AND HEARD THE "HUNT STORY" MANY TIMES. IT IS A GOOD STORY THAT DESERVES TO BE TOLD IN YOUR GREAT MAGAZINE. I APPRECIATE YOUR SEEING THIS AND TAKING THE TIME TO SHARE IT WITH YOUR READERS. AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR A JOB WELL DONE. KAREN
THIS DEER AND YOU ARE FANTASTIC. CONGRATULATIONS, MY HUSBAND, ON GETTING THE ONE THAT DID NOT GET AWAY THIS TIME. WITH LOVE. K
What a buck! Your persistence paid off, nicely done.
That's a great buck ole KY is having some true trophy class deer taking in it.
Karen and Lynn,
Thanks for the nice comments about the article. I really enjoyed covering this story, because the buck was taken the right way. Also, I know exactly how difficult it can be to pattern and hunt a trophy-class buck in that neck of the woods. No fields, farmland,or food plots can be extremely tough. Thickets, cliffs, and miles of hardwoods forces a deer hunter to take their scouting to a higher level.
All of the bucks that I've taken from the Daniel Boone National Forest have been hard earned and that's what makes things even sweeter. Lynn you logged in a lot of hours for this buck (3-years) and you deserve to hang that monster on your wall. Way to stick with it!
Travis Faulkner
Outdoor Life
ttfaulkner@msn.com
Travis, We are finding more big bucks in higher level of altitudes out here in NW Montana the place's where we find where these thick wooded area bucks live it is like a jungle most the year so they are living far away from us as they can. I guess some are born with a 6th sense for survival they like areas where they have the uperhand many times I wont even see the deer beded but they know soon as the tree gets between I & him he knows that is enuff cover for them to escape all you get to see is the thing that looks like ribs on his head then hes gone just a faint memory but one that gives you that rush knowing there is that big of bucks in the area. Thats why it is amazing to see wild free range monster bucks go down. Thanks for storie & good job
Dropjhook,
It's always good to find big sign or see monster bucks in your hunting area. Knowing the big boys are there is enough to keep you in the woods even when you're killed from a long week at work! Keep us posted on the BBZ when you start shed hunting. I got some pretty cool trail-cam pics of a buck before and after he dropped one side of his rack last week. The same camera had two big bobcats, gray foxes, turkeys, a coyote and several bucks in the snow. I love checking my trail-cam! You never know what is going to show up.
Travis Faulkner
Outdoor Life
ttfaulkner@msn.com
Great Article! This is a massive buck...congratulations Lynn!
Travis, Today went & splurged a little messed around & bought me a hunting truck & also a new cannon camera so if it dont break while shed hunting I should beable to get better hunts on camera during hard horned season. If I find any big sheds I will send photos for sure I cant wait to go shed hunting very excited!!!! djh
Sir, that is a fine buck. I just hope that in my own public hunting escapades I can be half as fortunate.
Great story Travis and congrats Lynn. Its good to see when someones hard work pays off. Its a very nice trophy.
Yea Travis those big public land deer are challenging you have to find the chink in their armor. From my experience there are lots of them out there and it seems most hunters ignore the opportunity.
While fall turkey hunting on a 15,000 acre public parcel I found several trophy class bucks. A couple of them within bow range, alas I had a shotgun...
took some outstanding pics and I have GPS cooridinates some might pay for. ;-D
Charlie Elk,
I agree with you 100% about public-land bucks. In many cases, large tracts of open ground and intense hunting pressure get inside the heads of hunters. However, learning how to utilize outside pressure can be a major advantage. Most of my bucks have been tagged from these hard-hit areas.
Travis Faulkner
Outdoor Life
ttfaulkner@msn.com
Dropjhook,
I've always wanted to hunt or just get to see Montana. For a country boy in eastern Kentucky, it's hard to imagine a place where you can hunt elk, mule deer, whitetails, and mountain lions. Thanks for the tip and I'll look you up if I ever get to make a trip out your way.
Travis Faulkner
Outdoor Life
ttfaulkner@msn.com
Sweet story, sweet deer.
Well deserved buck Lynn you'll enjoy that one on your wall for sure.
Good public land has good bucks we public land hunters should keep that our secret. ;-D
Now your secret is out Travis and here everyone thought you had some little private hidey hole...
Come to think of it the public land / big buck secret has been disclosed. We best be more careful with your secrets; it will get too crowded out there. ;-)
Charlie Elk,
I also have access to some good private land, but many of my best bucks have been taken from public land. I love having company when hunting these areas. Without question, hunting pressure has pushed more than one wall-hanger past my stand in the past. There is nothing like being right in the middle of all the action!
Travis Faulkner
Outdoor Life
ttfaulkner@msn.com
Wow what a buck! Congratulations Lynn on the buck of a lifetime. Thanks for the article Travis. What makes this buck even more special than his amazing rack is the fact that he was taken on public land and under rules of fair chase. Good luck in the future Lynn.
Wow what a buck! Congratulations Lynn on the buck of a lifetime. Thanks for the article Travis. What makes this buck even more special than his amazing rack is the fact that he was taken on public land and under rules of fair chase. Good luck in the future Lynn.
Big O,
As a hunter, it's just good to see a a buck like that being tagged from public land. This particular deer was taken from an area that has no food plots or agricultural land period. Miles of hardwoods and thickets were able to produce this giant. Deer like these give all us hope.
Travis Faulkner
Outdoor Life
ttfaulkner@msn.com
travis, yup you got our e-mail addres! I went shed hunting no luck in the snow but it gets the blood pumping when whitetail & mule deer bucks & bull elk all using the same trails. Its what keeps me going one day I find nothing next time a little fork horned bleached out whitetail & the time after that might be 3 or 4 brown elk antlers!! I'm still working on my first shed of the year.djh
way to go lynn thats a hell of a buck!
THANK YOU TO EACH OF YOU FOR YOUR TIME TO COMMENT ON MY DEER. ALL YOUR KIND WORDS AND CONGRATULATIONS ARE GREATLY APPRECIATED. AGAIN, A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO TRAVIS FAULKNER, THE BEST.
NICE BUCK ! ! !
It's nice to see the "lil guy" WIN ONE ! ! !
great deer for sure, as for shed hunting it is on here in kansas, really finding some bigun's
we are at about 50%on the drop right now, get out and find em now before those damm squirrels do
Treedemon,
My biggest bodied buck ever was from the open country of KS on a bow hunt. There are some absolute monsters running around in that state. In fact, it looks like you found a giant set of sheds from your picture. Keep us posted on what you find this year. How difficult are sheds to find in your neck of the woods?
Travis Faulkner
Outdoor Life
ttfaulkner@msn.com
BBZ Fans,
My home state of Kentucky offers some excellent public-land hunting opportunities (this amazing buck is a prime example). However, I would love to hear from all of you about the quality of public land hunting in your states. Please post some comments and share with us how you would grade the public land deer hunting in your neck of the woods.
Thanks,
Travis Faulkner
Outdoor Life
ttfaulkner@msn.com
Travis, If any of the BBZ plans a hunt in Montana there is a place that will kindle your hunting spirit called Seeley Lake Montana. There just over the Mission Range from me & I've seen some gagers come out of there. I'm talking massive antler whitetails with the dark dark brown color. This area hasent been known to have big whitetails & I notice there being pretty secretive about letting the big whitetail secret out. I was coming back from seeley after a bball game it was like I entered a movie script because we just get out of town & there where deer on the road! I'm talking the whole road bothsides it was like driving threw a cattle drive. After about 160 yrds they kinda thinned out of the road but you could see there eyes along side the roads for a ways down the road. Come to find out years later a guy tells me that wasent rear back then because big numbers of deer would gather around the roads to eat the salt off the roads. Thats when they used salt on the road now they have someting else they use.
http://www.seeleyswanpathfinder.com/pfrecreation/hunting.html
treedemon, I would like to see some of sheds you find also please post us some photo's!!djh
Travis, here is what my dad found yesterday while we where out shed hunting. One point was broken in half but it was the first find of the year! http://www.outdoorlife.com/photos/bragging-board/hunting/deer/whitetail/...
Post a Comment (200 characters or less)